BENGALURU: A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Bengaluru on Friday to inaugurate the 7.5 km elevated section of Namma Metro’s Pink Line, the Congress government in Karnataka has stepped up its demand for a greater contribution from the Centre towards the city’s Metro projects.
The state claimed that it is bearing nearly 84% of the total approved project cost, while the Centre’s contribution stands at just 16%. It alleged that the latter has not fulfilled its share as per the 50:50 funding arrangement.
The new Metro line connects Kalena Agrahara to Tavarekere (Suddaguntepalya) in South Bengaluru.
Giving funding details of Metro Phases 1,2,2A, 2B and the estimated cost of Phase 3, Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told the media that the combined project outlay stood at Rs 77,891 crore. Of this, Karnataka is bearing Rs 65,291 crore or 83.8%, while the Centre’s contribution is Rs 12,600 crore, accounting for 16.2%.
Metro network to hit 100km, target now set for 500km, says Byre Gowda
“The state is effectively investing nearly five rupees for every rupee contributed by the Centre,” Minister Byre Gowda said, arguing that the financial arrangement is far from the 50:50 funding model often cited for Metro projects.
While the expansion of Namma Metro to hit the 100km mark is a milestone for Bengaluru,the growing financial burden on the state needs to be addressed, he said. The long-term vision for the city is to reach 400 to 500 km of Metro network, he added.
The Centre’s contribution has declined across successive phases, even as Karnataka continues to bear a substantial share of the expenditure. Bengaluru is among the country’s major contributors to GST and income tax, besides generating foreign exchange through its technology and services sectors, and deserves greater Central investment in its infrastructure, he argued.
Karnataka has also borne around Rs 1,046 crore towards Metro operating losses, with another Rs 52 crore yet to be reimbursed, he said. The state is additionally meeting the entire land acquisition cost and increases in project implementation expenditure.
The state will make a formal appeal to the PM during his visit, seeking a greater Central contribution and faster approvals for pending projects. He suggested that the Centre explore currency-hedging mechanisms or rupee-denominated loans through domestic financial institutions to reduce foreign exchange risks.
Pink Line to open for passengers on Nov 14
Bengaluru is set to cross the 100 km milestone in its Metro network, with the elevated section of Pink Line scheduled to be inaugurated on November 13. The stretch will open for public service at 6 am on November 14.
The minister said the extension would take the city’s operational Metro network to approximately 103 km. Modi and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are scheduled to arrive near Dairy Circle around 12.30 pm before proceeding to Tavarekere Metro station for the inauguration. They will travel by Metro, along with the Governor and other dignitaries, to Bilekahalli-IIMB station before attending a public programme at the IIM auditorium.
Initially, five trains will operate on the Pink Line at eight-minute intervals. The frequency will be reviewed based on passenger demand and signalling system stabilisation, with plans to reduce the interval further.
He said the Pink Line inauguration was the beginning of a much larger expansion plan, with the state government targeting an operational Metro network of 170 km over the next one-and-a-half years.
Centre nod to renaming of 3 Pink Line stations
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has approved the renaming of three stations on Namma Metro’s Pink Line following demands from local residents and recommendations of a committee.
Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said in a social media post that the stations would be renamed: IIMB to Bilekahalli-IIMB; JP Nagar 4th Phase to NS Palya-JP Nagar 4th Phase; Tavarekere to SG Palya (Suddagunte Palya).